Foot accelerator



w. H. THOMAS FOOT AGGELERATOR July 13, 192s. 1,592,165

Filed June 1, 1926 E'Sheets-Shee., l

July 13 ,1926. 1,592,165

W. H. THOMAS FOOT CCELERATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 13, 1926. u l* if l NETE@ Sril-TES PATENT FFE.

\`EALTER H. THOMAS, F SPENCER, OVfA.

FOOT ACCELERATOR.

Application tiled .Tune l, 1926. Serial No. 112,8'29.

The object ot my invent-ion is to provide the hand throttle control rod is Ctniiected to a toot accelerator Control oit simple, durable the Carburetor by a link or rod extended and comparatively inexpensive construct-ion. through the bloek ot the engine itself, while More particularly my invention relates in other types the Connecting link extends 60 to a toot accelerator ada `ated to have parts over the engine block, and it is my obieet mounted upon the hand throttle control rod to provide a toot throttle control Capable and capable ot being' shifted longitudinally ot being` used upon either type of carlniretor thereon, whereby earburetors arranged in by simply reversing the longitudinal posidiiierent positions relative to the hand tion oi' a iitting upon the throttle Control l0 throttle control rod may be operated eliangrod.

ing only the position of the parts ot tue lilith these and other objects in view, toot accelerator. invention Consists in the construction?. ai lt. may be here mentioned that with cerrangement and combination ot the various tain makes of oarburetors new used upon parts ot my toot throttle eontrol, where-bv 70 Ford automobiles the Connection between the objects contemplated are attained, the hand throttle control rod and the carhereinafter more tully set forth, pointed out buretor is near the lower end ot the hand in my Claims, and illustrated in the accomthrottle Control rod while in other makes panying drawings, in which: ot oarburetors the connection is near the Figure l, is a top plan view of a por- 75 upper end of the hand throttle control rod tion ot an automobile with my improved and it is my object to provide a toot aetoot accelerator installed thereon parts becelerator having parts mounted upon the ing shown in section to better illustrate the hand throttle Control rod and Capable ot Construction. being` reversed longitudinally thereon so Figure 2, is a perspective view ot the hand 80 that the saine part when in one position will throttle control rod, steering' shatt and spark eo-operate with a eonneetion near the lower controlling' rod ot an automobile with parts end ot the hand throttle control rod and ot my toot accelerator' mounted thereon. when in another position will oo-operate Figure 3, is a similar view with the same with a connection near the upper end ot' parts reversed tor (zo-operation with a eai'- 85 fl() the hand throttle control rod, the toot aetuburetor ot a different type from that iustable member which operates the part on tended for use when the parts are in the the hand throttle control rod being` the saine position shown in Figure 2. and in the same position regardless ot the lfigure l, is a sectional view taken on lino position ot the other parts ot the toot aol-lot Figure 3. 90 gelernter, Figure. 5, is a detail sectional view taken Still a turther objeet is to provide afoot on line 5 5 ot `Figure 2. accelerator' tor operating a throttle link Figure 6, is a detail sectional view taken when such link is either connected to the on line 6 6 ot Figure 3; and hand throttle Qontrol rod near the lower end Figure 7, is a perspective view ot the tit 95 4o thereo'l or near the upper end thereot, the ting adapted to be mounted upon the throttoot aetuatable member being positioned ile control rod. relative to the hand throttle Control rod at ln the accompanying drawings l have a point substantially midway between the used the reference numeral l0 to indicate normal connection oic the throttle link with generally an automobile body which ineludes 10U the lower and upper portions oit the hand a iioor board l2 and the engine le. A hand throttle Control rod. throttle Control rod-16 is adapted to be eon- Still a further object is to provide in a neeted to a carburetor mounted upon the entoot accelerator, a member mounted upon gine le tor operating the throttle lever 18 the hand throttle control rod ot an anun ot the Carburetor 20. 105 mobile and capable ot' beingreversed there A steering rod 22 and a spark control rod on end tor 'end so that the bottom end are positioned alongV the hand throttle 't' l Yl vl t"l l l l i: 0f feflt when in one position may ie tie top on( con io iou o. nn aim .to 1s um o the allowing such end to assume two ditlerent hand throttle control rod l@ and is designed Ypositions upon the hand throttle control rod. to .normally be Connected with the throttle 11C lt may be here mentioned that in some lever 18 by the link 28a types ot earouretoi ,tor Ford automobiles; Ween my improved :toot aeeelerator used then the link 28 is disconnected from the crank arm 26 and connected to parts of my foot accelerator which I will now describe in detail.

My toot accelerator includes a toot actuatable rod or member having one end projected through the floor board 12 and cngageable by a toot pedal 32.

Mounted upon the throttle control rod 16 is a sleeve or fitting 3. I have shown the fitting 84 channel shaped in cross section and having a pair ot' outturned fianges 36 at one end for forming bearings. rfhe other end of the fitting 3l is also formed with outturned flanges 38 tor forming bearings.

The foot aetuatable member 8O is nected to a curved arm l0 by means of' a pivotal connection as at Cotter pins 44 are placed in the rod 30 above and below the curved arm for maintainingthe proper connection between the foot actuatable rod 30 and the curved arm The curved arm 10 is Jtermed with a number of spaced openings 46 which arev designed to register with openings formed in the flanges 36 whereby screws or bolts 48 may be inserted therein 'for holding the curved arm connected to the fitting 3l and at the same time holding the fitting Sil upon the throttle control 1G.

I have shown a number of openings G in the arm L10 which may be selectively made to register with the openings in the bearings or flanges 3G, thus enabling the position of the arm 40 upon the fit-ting 31 to be adjusted transversely.

This takes care of any variation in the position ot the floor boards 12 of the automobiles which are found in the various types ot Ford automobiles for which my foot accelerator is especially adaptable.

The fitting 8l is loose upon the rod 1G and is capable of turning or rotating therearound.

One end of the arm l() is outturned as at and a coil spring 52 is anchored thereto at one end and has its othe` end anchored around the spark control rod 2l as clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.

The end of the fitting 3l having the flanges 38 thereon is shown as resting against a bracket 54 normally provided upon the rods 1G, 22 and 2li.

A collar if necessary. may be placed around the control rod 16 above the fitting vfor holding the fitting' 3d in proper position upon the rod 16. although, the inclinationV ot the rod 16 itself will normally cause the fitting Sil to be maintained in position against the bracket 54.

A throttle link arm 58 is connected to the flanges or bearings 38 by screws or bolts (i0. The throttle link arm 58 takes the place of the arm 26 normally fixed to the throttle control rod 16.

COH-

One end of the throttle link arm 58 is bent upon itself as at G2 tor providing a double bearing for one end ot the linl; as clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. l find that in some types of the Ford car, the steering column is closer to the engine l1 than in others and consequently the links are ditferent lengths. I have therefore provided an extension ($1 and openings G8 and (S5 to accommodate these diti'erent length links.

The throttle link arm 58 in order to be connected to the fitting 3l includes. a flanger 6l positioned at right angles to the main body portion ot the arm 58 which rests upon the bearings 38.

The fiange (il extends over the throttle control rod 1G and holds one end ot' the fitting upon the throttle control rod 16. From the construction oi' the parts just described it will be noted that when the foot accelerator rod 30 is moved forwardly and downwardly in the direction indicated b v the arrow GG it will cause the arm 40 to swing in the direction indicated by the arrow 68 carrying with it the fitting 3l.

The fitting 84C is thus rotated or turned upon the hand throttle control rod lf3 independently ot' any movement ot' the hand throttle control rod itself.

Rotating the fitting SL1- in the direction indicated by the arrow 68 will impart movement to the arm 58 in the direction indicated by the arrow 70. The result ot this movement is to pull the throttle link 28 to a position where it will cause the throttle valve of the carburetor to be operated.

The spring 52 returns the fitting lland parts mounted thereon, to its normal or predetermined position. As soon as foot pressure is removed from the 'toot pedal fli. then. of course, the spring will cause the foot accelerator to assume its normal position.

It will be noted that the foot accelerator is operable independent ot the throttle control rod 16. In ord-er to permit hand operation of the link 28 through the hand throttle control rod 1G I mount an angular lug 72 upon the arm 58.

One portion of the lug T2 has a slot Tl; therein through which is extended the .screw 76. Another portion of the lug T2 extends down below the arm 58 and engages the aria 26 as clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.

The spring 52 tends` to move the ittiuo' 34 and arm 58 in a direction where tlu` lrg 72 will strike against the arm lVhen the foot accelerator is operated bf: foot then the lug T2 simply movesl away from the arm 2G. lVhen the hand throttle con trol rod 16 is rotated for ordinary hand manipulation of the feeding ofi fuel to the carburetor, then the arm 26 engaging the lu;r 72 swings the arm 58 in the direction indicated by the arrow T0 and this in turn iniL essary to reverse the position of the Viitting V84 and the arm 56, although, the arm 40 which connectsv to the foot actuatable rod 30 is left in the same position.

yThe fitting 84 as shown in Figure 8 is mounted upon the control rod 16 and held against downward movement by the collar 56.

` In order to change the position of the iitting 34 all that is necessary is to remove the screws 48 and 60-rom the arms l4() and 5'8 and thereafter reverse the position oi the fitting 84. y

It will be noted that in Figure 2, the arms 40 and 58 are on the same side of the itting 34 while in Figure 3, the arm 58 projects on the opposite side from the arm 40.

The openings 46 in the arm 40 are suc-h as to permit reversing ot the remainder of the parts and still have the openings register ,with the bearings 86.

' The throttle control rod 16 as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow 8O for moving the throttleflinlr 28 in a direction indicated by the arrow 82. K

The' throttle linlr in this case is normally connected to the arm 78 and in my case the link 28 is connected to the arin 58 as clearlyV shown in Figure 8 of the drawings.

The arm 58 swings in the direction indicated by the arrow 84 for operating the throttle valve and lever 18. The lug 7 2 is swung around so that it does not coact with the arm 78 when the arm 58 is moved in the direction indicatedby the arrow 84 although, when the arm 78 is moved due to the hand `operation of the throttle control rod 16, then the arm 78 engages the lug 72 and causes the toot accelerator to operate.

. It will be noted that in Figure 2 movement of the link28 in the direction indicated by Vthe arrow 86, causes the operating ot' the throttle valve while it is the movement in an opposite direction that causes the opening of the throttle valve in Figure 3.

It will be noted that my foot accelerator lis adaptable for use on a Ford automobile and thatit is necessary in order to malte the foot accelerator universal tor suoli automobile to take care ofthe linir 28 regardless or" the direction it moves in, depending uponk the particular carburetor'used vupon the automobile.

The operation of the foot actuatable member 36 through the arm 40 whereby the litting 34 isrotated is exactly the same in both cases.

rIhe mounting of the levers 58 on opposite sides as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings gives the necessary difference in movement for operating the linl 28.

The lug 72 which is capable of being adjusted relative to the arms 26 and 78, enables the hand operationA ofV the throttle control rod to operate the foot accelerator and yet when the oot acceleratory is operated by :toot no movement of the control rod 16 is iad. Y

It may be here mentioned that the throttle control rods 16 Yarc the same upon all types of Ford automobiles and that different styles of carburetors are operated by mounting the arm 26 near the bracket 54 in one case and mounting the arm 78 near the upper end of the control rod in another case. Y

rlhe iitting 84 is just half the length between the two places of mounting the arms 26 and 78 so that by simply reversing the fitting 84 and using the same parts, I ain able to use the same accelerator regardless oi the two different positions that the arms 26 and 78 may be in.

The reversing of the parts enables the foot actuatable device which consists of the rod SO'and the arm'40 to remain in the same position even though the rest oit the parts ot the foot accelerator are in ditierent positions.

The advantage ot my foot accelerator resides in the arrangement wherein the parts may be reversed and used in connection with throttle control rods having erms thereon either in the position shown in Figure 2 or the position shown in Figure 8.

Some changes may be made in the arrangement and construction oi' the various parts of my 'foot accelerator, without departing from the essential features and purposes of my invention, and it is my inten-- tion to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use oi' mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably ineluded within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a hand throttle control rod and a carburetor throttle control lever, of toot accelerator including turnable means mounted upon said rod and adapted to rotate thereon, foot actuatable means for rotating said turiiable means, a connection between said turnable means and the throttle lever, said turnable means being reversible upon said rod relative to the foot actuatable means whereby the connection between tlie turnable means and throttle lever may be ymade inv different positions relative to the foot actuatable means.

2. In combination with a hand throttle control rod and a carburetor throttle control (l ll lever, of a foot accelerator includingturnable means mounted upon said rod and adapted to rotate thereon, toot actuatable means for rotating said turnable means, a connection between said turnable means and the throttle lever, said turnable means being reversible upon said rod relative to the foot actuatable means whereby the connection between the turnable means and throttle lever may be made in two diti'erent positions relative to the foot actuatable means.

3. In combination with a hand throttle control rod and a carburetor throttle control lever, ol a 'root accelerator including turnable means mounted upon said rod and adapted to rotate thereon, toot actuatable means connected to one end of said turnable means for rotating` said turnable means, a connection between the other end of said turnable means and the throttle lever, said turnable means being reversible end for end upon said rod relative to the foot act-uatable means whereby the connection between the turnable means and throttle lever may be made in different' positions relative to the fo'otactuatable means.

et. In combination with a khand throttle control rod adapted to either have a connection near its upper end or near its lower end with a carburetor throttle control lever, oit' a 'foot accelerator1 including` means mounted upon said rod capable o'if havingone end serve as either the bottom or top end and adapted to be positioned near the top or bottom end of said rod, a connection between said end and the throttle control lever and a toot aetuatable member connected to the other end of said means for rotatingit.

In combination with a hand throttle control rod and a carburetor throttle control lever, et a loot accelerator' includingv a turnable member mounted on said rod, a foot actuatable device connected to one end of said member, a control lever operatingdevice connected to the other end ot' said member, said member and control lever device being reversible without changing the position of said toot actuatable device.

G. In combination with a hand throttle control rod and a carlmretor throttle control lever, of a 'foot accelerator including' a turnable member mounted on said rod, a toot actuatable device connected to one end of said member, a control lever operating` device connected to the other end o'll said member, said member and control lever device being reversible without changing the position oit said vtoot actuatable device, and means for yieldingllv holding said turna-ble member in a predetermined position relative to said rod.

7. In combination with ahand throttle control rod having' an arm thereon, and a carburetor throttle control lever, of a foot accelerator including a foot actuatable member and an arm engaging' member turnably mounted on said rod, means for connecting said lfoot actuatable member and said arm engaging' memberl in longitudinally spaced relation to each other. said means beingr reversible relative to said toot actuatable member whereb)Y said arm engaging member maiT coact with the arm when spaced on either side ot said 'toot actuatalile member.

8. In combination with a hand throttle control red havingan arm thereon and a carburetor throttle control lever, oi" a l'oot accelerator including;` a toot actuatable lilcinber and an arm engaging member turnablv mounted on said rod, yielding`v means actuating said toot actuatable member in one direction and means on said arm engaging member 'tor engaging said arm in one direction wherebjvv said vielding means will cause such engagement, means for connectingr said foot actuatfible member and said arm cnraging member in lon'itiuliiiall3v spaced relation to each other, said means being reversible relative to said toot actuataliile member whereby said arm engaging member ma)v coact with the arm when lspaced on ither side of said toot actuatable member.

9. In combination with a hand throttle control rod havingr an arm thereon and a carburetor throttle control lever, ot a toot accelerator includingr a toot aetuatable member and an arm en .eagi j member turnably mounted on said rod, jvielding means actuating' said foot actuatal'ile member in one direction and means on said arm engaging member for engaging said arm in one direction wherebyY said yielding means will cause such engagement and said vleot actuatable member when actuated in the opposite direction will cause said arm engagingl means to be disengaged from said arm, means for connecting said 'lootv actuatable member and said arm engaging; member in longitudinall7 spaced relation to each other, said means being` reversible relative to said foot actuatable member wherebj,Y said arm engaging member may coact with the arm when spaced on either side ot said toot actu atable member.

l0. In combination with a hand throttle control rod and a carburetor throttle control lever, ot a foot accelerator includingf a toot actuatable member turnablv mounted on said rod in a fixed longitudinal position, a throttle operatingr means tul'nably mounted on said rod, means tor conne/"ting: said toot actuatable member and said throttle operatingmeans in spaced relation on said rod, said means comprisinga sleeve or litting' secured to said throttle operating,Y means and dctachablv secured to said loot` actuatable member wherebj,IY said sleeve and said throttle operating means may be arranged to extend longitudinally on the rod in either direction from said :toot actuatable member. A

ll. In combination with a hand throttle control rod havin@ :in arm thereon, a Jfoot accelerator comprising av fittin or sleeve turnably mounted on said rod, a foot actuatable member secured to one end of Said sleeve und laterally adjustable thereon7 a throttle operating-nun secured to the other end of said sleeve, means on said throttle operating arm for engaging said arm on said rod in one direction and yielding means for causing such engagement.

l2. In combination with hand throttle control rod designed to have an arm mounted in one of two positions thereon, a foot accelerator comprising` a. foot actuatable member positioned substantially half way between seid two positions, a member for engaging said arm and means for connecting said member to said `foot actuatable member, said arm engaging; member and said means being reversible relative to said footectuutable member whereby said Adrm engaging member' may be positioned adjacent said arm when said arm is in either of its two positions.

Des Moines, Iowa, lay 20, 1926.

`WAI/TER H. THOMAS. 

